Media Release - May 2, 2025
Garden Grove, CA – The Beaumont Unified School District was recently recognized for its proven effectiveness in reducing chronic absenteeism and increasing student attendance. This exceptional achievement places the District as a model for other Districts at a time when California has seen absences reach a staggering 25% in 2022-23 compared to only 12.1% levels in 2018-19.
“Attendance is not just a matter of following rules; it is a fundamental factor that influences student learning, personal development, the financial health of the school district, and the overall success of the educational community in Beaumont,” said the District’s School Board President Melissa Williamson.
While California law permits punitive measures, such as imposing fines on families whose child misses up to 10% of school days in a year, the Beaumont Unified School District is being applauded for including supportive measures in their response to addressing attendance with individual families.
“We’re dedicated to working with our families to identify attendance barriers specific to their unique situations and eliminating these barriers by connecting our families to school and community resources” explained Dr. Bobbi Burnett, Student Services Director. Amanda Fernandes, the Student Services Coordinator added, “This approach truly embodies our dedication to fostering strong connections between home, school, and the wider community.”
The causes of chronic absenteeism are diverse and specific to each student, but may include a “lack of access to student and family supports, and student and family health challenges,” according to the U.S. Department of Education.
The Beaumont Unified School District received the 2025 Model SARB Recognition at the California Association of Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance State Conference in Garden Grove, California on Monday, April 28, 2025. The award was received by the Student Services Director Dr. Bobbi Burnett, Student Services Coordinator Amanda Fernandes, and Student Attendance Technician Edgar Garcia.